Yates junior Lemon leaving a sweet taste

Yates junior leading team on postseason path

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, October 14, 2004

Last season, Orie Lemon was roughing up quarterbacks as a defensive end.

Now, the Yates junior is the one being chased as the Lions' starting quarterback. And so far he's loving every minute of it.

"I enjoyed defense, but I like playing quarterback even more," said Lemon, a 17-year-old Third Ward resident. "The pressure doesn't bother me. I want the game in my hands."

At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, Lemon doesn't mind the contact, either. He's big and powerful enough to withstand the punishment and deliver some of his own if the defense can catch him.

"I guess it comes from playing defense," Lemon said. "I try to be aggressive. I'm not the kind of player who runs out of bounds (to avoid being hit). I want to get as many yards as I can and help the team."

Lemon can leave opposing defenses with a sour taste. Just ask Westbury, which watched Lemon scramble 11 times for 132 yards and two scores. Lemon also threw for a pair of touchdowns, leading Yates to a 62-0 victory.

Lemon leads the Lions in both rushing and passing. Entering this week, Lemon has rambled for 436 yards and four touchdowns on just 32 carries. In the air, he has completed 21 of 63 passes, good for 359 yards and seven touchdowns with only three interceptions.

Yates coach Ray Evans knew what he was doing when he shifted Lemon from defensive line to quarterback in the off-season.

"I could have put Orie anywhere running back, tight end, receiver, linebacker or defensive end but I thought he'd help us the most at quarterback," Evans said. "He's got the size. He's 225 pounds and has a strong arm. He has huge hands. And the kid is fast. He runs a 4.5, 4.6 (in the 40-yard dash). Physically, he has all the talent in the world."

But Evans said that wasn't the main reason he made the change.

"It was more about his leadership," Evans said. "It's the way he acts in the huddle. His teammates really rallied around him during spring practice. You could tell they wanted him to be their quarterback."

Lemon wasn't concerned about the switch.

"I played quarterback in eighth and ninth grade," Lemon said. "I felt like I could do the job."

Lemon passed the ball efficiently in 7-on-7 over the summer and was spectacular in a preseason scrimmage against John Tyler.

But Evans' decision to name Lemon as the starter was validated in the opener against Lamar. In that game, Lemon hit Ken Griffin on a 49-yard touchdown pass as time expired to spark Yates to a thrilling 19-16 victory.

"Orie really handled himself well against Lamar," Evans said. "But he's done that in every game. You can count on him to come up with at least one big play."

Lemon ran for one score and made several nice runs in a 23-22 win over Forest Brook. He broke loose against Muskogee (Okla.), rushing 10 times for a season-high 222 yards and a 73-yard touchdown run in 49-20 loss. And he took it up a notch against Westbury.

But for Lemon, Lamar was the highlight of the year so far.

"Lamar's got a great team," Lemon said. "It was an exciting game. To win it like we did was amazing."

Lemon expects to have more moments like that down the road as Yates (5-1, 3-0) drives to a possible District 22-4A championship. But he knows it won't be easy.

"We've got some tough games ahead of us — Washington, Sterling, Waltrip, Worthing," Lemon said. "We're going to have to be ready to play."

"Orie's the guy you want to send out there," Evans said. "He's a quiet, unassuming kid, but he knows what to do when the game's on the line."

But Evans insists there is some room for improvement.

"We've got to work with Orie on his mechanics a little bit," Evans said. "He's a great runner, but he needs to fine-tune his passing."

Through four games, Lemon had rushed 38 times for 413 yards and four touchdowns. But he's completed only 17 of 47 passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns.

Others have taken notice of Lemon's talent. Halfway through his junior season, he's already receiving attention from college programs like Arkansas, Florida State, Kansas, Kansas State and Oklahoma State, to name a few.

Lemon said he wants to play college ball, just like older brother Oscar, a former Yates standout who played at Texas Tech.

"I want to go on and play in college, but I have some other things I want to do first," Lemon said.

Like leading Yates to a district crown and perhaps even a state title, something the Lions last achieved in 1985.

"I think we're good enough to win state," Lemon said. "We've got a dominant defense and the offense is moving the ball."

Lemon's younger brother, Eli, is splitting time at tailback with Lance Limbrick. The Lions also have a quality group of receivers led by Griffin, Dante Higgins and Nick Wilson and a strong offensive line. And they have an up-and-coming quarterback who is not afraid of a little contact.